Flying Tales

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28518, 22 February 1958, Page 3

Flying Tales

Flying Tales from Blackwood. Published by Blackwood. 268 PP-

This fine book is a collection of short stories on aviation selected from various issues of Blackwood’s Magazine. The 17 stories, arranged in chronological order, are varied, and include a delightful tale of pioneer flying by the “learn by your own mistakes” method, the story of the record breaking flight by an R.A.F. Canberra across the North Pole, and a tragic story of a pilot who succeeded in bringing his badly damaged aircraft to an airfield only to crash on landing, killing himself and the crew, but saving the life of every passenger. The stories are as interesting as they are varied and nearly all the phases of aircraft development are illustrated by some tale that could be representative of many similar events. For example, the story of the bomber pilots who spent their leisure time lying m the fields reciting poetry could be typical of many of their fellows who wished to escape, even for a moment, from thoughts of their dangerous profession. Each story stands on its own merit, is straightforward, interesting, and never lacking in typically English humour. It is a pity that an otherwise fine book is marred by a number of irritating word and letter omissions.